Commentary highlights Kılıçdaroğlu's 'immunity' statement: 'A signal to send Özgür Özel to prison like Demirtaş'

Karar newspaper columnist Akif Beki made notable assessments in his column, which he wrote based on the statements Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu made on Sözcü TV. Beki argued that Kılıçdaroğlu saying he does not regret the immunity vote that paved the way for the arrest of Selahattin Demirtaş was a conscious choice.

KILIÇDAROĞLU HAD SAID "I DO NOT REGRET IT"

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, while answering journalists' questions on Sözcü TV for the first time after the absolute nullity decision, stated that he did not regret the "yes" vote he cast during the process of lifting the immunity of former HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş.

After the statement sparked debate in the public eye, Kılıçdaroğlu made a new assessment.

In his statement, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "We said 'Yes' at that time to disrupt the government's perception operation and the political trap it set, and to show that none of our deputies had any fear of any crime. I want you to know that I will seek the rights of all our mayors who are unjustly imprisoned and every member of this nation to the end."

Akif Beki, on the other hand, argued in his column that the statement in question by Kılıçdaroğlu should not be evaluated as a communication error or a gaffe.

Beki suggested that Kılıçdaroğlu's declaration that he does not regret the support he gave to the lifting of immunities contained a message regarding what kind of stance he would take if a similar process were to occur in the future.

CLAIM THAT IT IS "A MESSAGE TO ÖZGÜR ÖZEL"

In his column, Beki also made assessments regarding CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, claiming that Kılıçdaroğlu's statements were a signal directed at Özgür Özel and the CHP administration.

Beki commented, "If he had said that they did wrong and that he felt regret and shame for it... What would he have done when it came time for the immunities of Özgür Özel and his friends to be lifted tomorrow? He has no intention of doing the right thing this time; he wants to use that opportunity, so he does not let it go even at the cost of being in a difficult position."

"HE WOULD HAVE GIVEN AN EFFECTIVE REMORSE STATEMENT" ASSESSMENT

Akif Beki also stated in his column that Kılıçdaroğlu reiterated that he did not regret his stance in the process leading to Demirtaş's imprisonment, and included the following views:

"This statement by Kılıçdaroğlu was not a communication accident or a gaffe. If it were otherwise, he would have given an effective remorse statement regarding his stance on the lifting of immunities."